MONROVIA — SOS Villages National Director Prosper Ndione has joined many other education stakeholders in calling on the government to increase the budget of the Ministry of Education.
Report by Garmah Lomo, Contributing Writer
Mr. Ndione made this statement during special remarks at the official celebration of the Day of the African Child, commemorated annually on June 16th since 1976 when a group of school-going children protested for their right to education in South Africa.
The global theme for this year’s celebration is “Education for all children in Africa: the time is now,” while the national theme, “Promoting inclusive and resilient educational systems for every child in Liberia,” underscores the critical importance of providing quality education and safeguarding the well-being of children to ensure they can thrive and contribute to their communities and country.
According to Mr. Ndione, education is key in every country, emphasizing that any nation without education will eventually disappear.
“Education is a right and not a privilege,” Mr. Ndione emphasized, “for every child.”
The SOS National Director has reiterated the call to the national government to build more public schools and universities to enable parents who cannot afford private school fees to send their children to school. He also stressed the need to align education with technology, given the modern era we live in.
Mr. Ndione remarked, “When Europeans were eating roasted meat, Africans had already invented fire,” alluding to the continent’s historical contributions and subsequent experiences with colonialism, which introduced languages like English, French, Portuguese, and now Chinese.
Currently, SOS operates in 137 countries worldwide, providing education for children who have lost their parents or been abandoned.
Furthermore, Mr. Ndione highlighted that despite progress, access to quality education remains a cornerstone for development and employment. In Liberia, 1.4 million children still face barriers to education, according to the UNESCO Education Sector Analysis 2022, which reports a gross enrollment rate of 881,131 in the country.
Director Ndione further noted a decrease in lower primary level enrollment by more than 50,000 students from 2015 to 2020, while other levels witnessed slight increases in overall enrollment.
“Early Childhood Development (ECD) is a clear government priority at the policy level,” Mr. Ndione acknowledged. However, access to public schools still requires payment of fees, including for uniforms, he added, urging the government and stakeholders to address these challenges.
Meanwhile, the SOS National Director remains committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring that every child, regardless of background or circumstances, has the opportunity to learn and thrive.
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